Lifter and support apparatus for piling and the like



LIFTER AND SUPPORT APPARATUS FOR FILING AND THE LIKE Sept. 15, 1970 c, ALLEY ET AL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov.

' I INAVENTORS 650R65 6. 14bb5Y MARK VALoRY- At Lorneqs- Sept. 15,1910 '6. c. ALLEY m1. 3,528,563

LIFTER AND SUPPORT APPARATUS FOR FILING AND THE LIKE Filed NOV. 21, 1968 a Sheets-Sheet a I INVENTORS 25 4 GEORGE CALLEY 2. E BY M RK VALORY I i: Y 5 t ney Sept.15,1970 Gamma? ETAL' 3,528,563

LIP TEE AND SUPPORT APPARATUS FOR FILING AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 21, 1968 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVENTORS MARK V/4LORY GEORGE 6. AL L 5Y&.

I torne'ys United States Patent Int. Cl. B66f 11/00 US. Cl. 214-3 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Lifter and support apparatus for placing or positioning a piling and for supporting the same as it is driven into the ground by a piledriver. The apparatus is especially useful along ground surfaces that are sloped, such as hillsides, and it includes leg structure adapted to provide a stable support for the apparatus along such surface. Guide structure adapted to have a piling secured thereto is supported by the leg structure through connector means enabling the guide structure and any piling secured thereto to be displaced into a predetermined orientation, ordinarily vertical, irrespective of the disposition of the ground surface. Power mechanism operative between the leg and guide structures permits such adjustable displacement of the guide structure and piling.

. This invention relates to lifter and support apparatus for use in placing and supporting a variety of relatively heavy materials such as pilings and the like, and it relates more particularly to apparatus for positioning a piling along a ground surface and for supporting the piling as it is driven thereinto by a piledriver.

In the erection of large commercial buildings and another structures, it is common to drive massive pilings into the ground so as to support such structures on bed rock or otherwise provide a good foundation therefor. The equipment required for driving such pilings is often large and expensive and, therefore, its use is not economically justifiable for smaller construction projects. This is especially true, for example, in the erection of houses and similar residential buildings, and often such buildings are along hillsides where pilings could be used advantageously to prevent landslides and slippage or other movement of the buildings especially when the ground is softened by rain. So far as is known, no generally suitable apparatus for lifting, placing and supporting pilings at such construction sites is available, and as a consequence the use of pilings thereat is often neglected.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for use in lifting and supporting relatively heavy materials and especially in lifting, placing and supporting pilings and the like along a. surface into which they are to be driven irrespective of whether such surfaces are fiat, irregular, or inclined such as the slope of a hillside. Another object of the invention is that of providing apparatus of the character described that is structurally simple, relatively light-weight, and portable so as to enable it to be moved conveniently from one site to another.

Still another object is in the provision of apparatus enabling a heavy piling and the like to be mounted thereon and then swung upwardly into the generally vertical orientation ordinarily required by it for insertion into the grounda piledriver being attached to such piling at one end thereof prior to its erection, if desired. A further object is to provide apparatus of the type explained having means enabling it to automatically compensate for the inclination or slope of any surface along which it is positioned, having means for adjusting at least certain "ice components of the leg structure thereof to enable a firm footing to be effected, and having means affording translational displacements of a piling so as to facilitate accurate alignment thereof with the location at which it is to be driven into a ground surface. Additional objects and advantages of the invention, particularly as concerns detailed features and characteristics thereof, will become apparent as the specification develops.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, broken side view in elevation of a portion of the apparatus taken generally along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a broken top plan view of a portion of the apparatus taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view in elevation showing the apparatus in use in association with a piling and a piledriver in operative association therewith;

FIG. 5 is a side view in elevation of a modified form of apparatus;

FIG. 6 is an end view in elevation of such modified apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a side view in elevation of an adapter for use with a percussive tool to drive piling;

FIG. 10 is an end view in elevation of the adapter shown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1111 of FIG. 10.

Apparatus embodying the present invention is adapted for use with conventional pilings and drivers therefor; and referring to FIG. 4 in particular, the apparatus is shown in operative association with such a piling and with a piledriver therefor. For purposes of identification, the piling is denoted with the numeral 10 and the piledriver is designated with the numeral 11. In the usual 'ase, the piledriver 11 will be a standard heavy-duty piledriver as, for example, a model PB8A piledriver sold by Ingersoll-Rand Company. Such a piledriver is usually equipped with a fronthead 12 having cheek plates 13 that are adjustable so as to accept pillings 10 of from about two to three inches in thickness. The piledriver 11 shown is pneumatically actuated from a source (not shown) supplying air under pressure to the tool via a hose 14.

The apparatus for supporting the piling 10 as it is being driven and for lighting and placing the piling prior thereto is designated in its entirety with the numeral 15, and as shown best in FIG. 1 includes leg structure 16. The leg structure 16 has a tripod configuration, and comprises front legs 17 and 18 respectively equipped at the lower ends thereof with adjustable feet or pads 19 and 20. In the form shown, each of the feet 19 and 20- is vertically adjustable relative to its associated leg, as by means of having a threaded section engaged by a nut carried by the associated leg. Thus, in the case of the leg 17, the adjustable nut carried thereby is denoted 21 and the threaded section of the foot is designated 22; and as respects the leg 18, the nut and threaded section are respectively designated 23 and 24. The feet 19 and 20 are also pivotally supported relative to their associated legs so that they can firmly engage a support surface irrespective of any angular inclination thereof. Such accommodation of slope by the feet 19 and 20 is best shown in FIG. 4 in which the feet are firmly planted on a sloping surface 25 adapted to have the piling 10 driven thereinto.

The feet or pads 19 and 20 are equipped with spaced apart rings or collars (26 and 27 in the case of the foot 19, and 28 and 29 in the case of the foot that are pivotally supported upon a post, 30 and 31 respectively, extending therethrough and carried by the respectively associated legs 17 and 18. Thus, the feet 19 and 20 are supported for angular displacements about axes that are substantially normal to the longitudinal axes of the legs 17 and 18 and in the usual case are generally horizontally disposed. The legs 17 and 18 are interconnected at their upper ends via converging leg sections 32 and 33, and are rigidified by a cross brace 34.

The leg structure 16 further comprises an adjustable rear leg 35 that is elongated and may be reinforced therealong by oppositely oriented fins 36 and 37. As shown best in FIG. 2, the leg 35 is tubular in the form illustrated and at its forward end is enclosed by an inverted, generally U-shaped channel 38 having at its forward end a bracket or channel section 39 welded thereto in transverse orientation. The converging leg sections 32 and 33 come together at the channel-shaped fastener 39 and are welded or otherwise fixedly secured thereto so as to rigidly relate the forward legs 17 and 18 to the rearwardly extending leg 35. The structural interconnection of all of the legs is further strengthened by a plurality of rearwardly and inwardly extending struts or braces 40.

Welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the leg structure 16 and, more particularly, to the inverted channel 38 thereof, is platform structure comprising a lower plate or platform 41 that is generally planar and an upper substantially planar platform 42 supported thereon. The platform 42 is displaceable through limited distances relative to the platform 41 so as to permit more accurate positioning of a piling 10 prior to its being driven into a surface 25-.(FIG. 4). The relatively limited displacements required by the plate 42 to so align a piling may be obtained in any convenient manner as, for example, by the provision of a plurality of angularly disposed slots 43 and 44 adjacent each corner of the plates and which slots have nut-equipped bolts or comparable fasteners 45 extending therethrough. Thus, the plate 42 is displaceable in generally transverse and longitudinal directions relative to the plate 41 within the limits defined by each pair of the cooperative slots 43 and 44 and bolt 45 extending therethrough. The plates can be clamped in any position of adjustment by tightening the nut-equipped bolts 45.

Guide structure 46 adapted to have a piling 10 secured thereto is supported by the leg structure 16 'via the platform structure comprising the plates 41 and 42. The guide structure 46 is elongated and in the form shown constitutes an inverted, generally U-shaped channel equipped at spaced apart locations therealong with holders 47 and 48 adapted to secure a piling 10 thereto. The holders 47 and 48 may be identical, and in the embodiment illustrated constitute fasteners of U-shaped configuration extending about the guide structure 46 and equipped at the ends thereof with a strap, 49 and 50 respectively, which can be displaced toward the guide structure 46 by nuts threadedly engaging the ends of each fastener, thereby enabling the straps 49 and 50 to hold a piling 10 against the facing surface of the guide structure 46. A plurality of spacers 51 may be used to isolate the fasteners 47 and 48 from such piling 10.

Respecting the interconnection of the guide structure 46 with the leg structure 16, the connector structure provided for this purpose includes (in addition to the platform-defining plates 41 and 42) linkage 52 welded or otherwise fixedly secured at its lower end to the plate 42 and pivotally connected at its upper end to the guide structure 46 as by means of depending ears and a fastener extending therethrough, as shown generally at 53. Rigidity of the linkage 52 relative to the plate 42 is augmented by a strut or brace 54 extending therebetween. Evidently, such interrelationship of the guide structure 46 with the plate 42 enables the guide structure to be pivoted about the axis defined through the fastener means 53 between generally horizontal and generally vertical positions, as indicated in FIG. 4. Such angular displacements of the guide structure 46 are effected by power mechanismgenerally denoted with the numeral 55.

The power mechanism 55 for adjustably displacing the guide structure 46 relative to the leg structure 16 includes motor means in the form of piston-cylinder structure; the cylinder 56 of which is pivotally connected at one end thereof to the plate 42 by means of spaced apart cars 57 and a pivot pin 58, and the piston 59 of which is pivotally connected at its outer end of the guide structure 46 by means of ears 60 attached thereto and a pivot pin 61 extending therethrough. The motor means is therefore operative between the guide structure and upper plate 42, and it is connected in and forms a part of a hydraulic system by means of which the piston-cylinder structure or motor means is selectively energized in opposite directions so as to pivot the guide structure 46 between generally horizontal and vertical disposition.

The hydraulic system includes a pair of pumps 62 and 63 adapted to be manually energized, respectively, by crank arms 64 and 65 much in the manner of hydraulic jacks. The pumps 62 and 63 are mounted upon and are in flow-communication with a pump housing or block 66 equipped therewithin with a pair of valves (not shown) respectively associated with the pumps 62 and 63 and equipped with controls or levers 67 and 68 by means of which the valves are selectively opened and closed. A reservoir 69 containing a supply of hydraulic fluid is connected in flow-communication with the housing 66 through a conduit 70. The housing 66 is also connected through a flow conduit 71 with the lower end of the cylinder 56, and through a flow conduit 72 with the upper end of the cylinder 56. With this arrangement, suitable manipulation of the valve levers 67 and 68 and appropriate actuation of the pump 62 or 63, as the case may be, will energize the piston-cylinder structure so as to displace the guide structure 46 toward the vertical or horizontal position thereof.

In this reference, and assuming that the guide structure 46 is in the generally horizontal position showin in FIG. 1 and illustrated by broken lines in FIG. 4, if the valve 67 is displaced into the position thereof enabling fluid under pressure to be expressed through the conduit 71 to the lower end of the cylinder 56 upon actuation of the pump 62, and if the valve 68 is displaced into a position in which fluid within the opposite end of the cylinder 56 can be returned to the pump housing 56 via the conduit 72, as the pump 62 is actuated the piston 59 wil] be displaced outwardly from the cylinder 56 so as to pivot the guide structure 46 upwardly in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 4) and into the full-line position shown in the latter figure. Reversal of the valve settings 67 and 68 and actuation of the pump 63 will cause the guide structure 46 to be displaced in the opposite direction.

In use of the apparatus 15, it will be placed along a surface at a location adjacent the position at which a piling is to be driven thereinto. The leg structure 16 is firmly planted along such surface, and a stable tripartite support for the apparatus is effected because of the pivotal connection of the feet 19 and 20 with the respectively associated legs 17 and 18 and adjustability of the feet 19 and 20 the elevation of which may be varied as necessary to effect such stable positioning of the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 4, the apparatus is especially able to accommodate surfaces 25 which are inclined or define a hillside or slope, and surfaces of such type have in the past caused great difficulty for contractors.

Usually, the guide structure 46 will be in a generally horizontally disposition, as shown in FIG. 1, and the holders 47 and 48 are released to enable a piling 10 to be disposed along the guide structure. The holders 47 and 48 are placed in position after a piling 10 has been located upon the guide structure whereupon they secure such piling thereto. Next, the valve levers 67 and 68 are manipulated as necessary to permit pressure to be relieved from the outer end of the cylinder 56 as fluid under pressure is expressed into the lower end thereof by actuation of the pump 62. As the pump is actuated, the guide structure 46 is swung upwardly to locate the piling in a generally vertical orientation and at a position along the surface 25 at which it is to be driven thereinto by the repetitive impact delivered thereto from a piledriver 11. Slight translational adjustments of the piling 10 to permit accurate positioning thereof can be effected by loosening the fasteners 45 and displacing the plate 42 relative to the plate 42 to the extent necessary.

After the apparatus has been properly manipulated to orient the piling 10 in the position shown in FIG. 4, the piledriver 11 is actuated. As will be explained hereinafter, the pile driver is positioned on the top end of the pile by an adaptor which permits the pile to be longitudinally moved with respect to the driver. Thus, the

piledriver will drive the pile into the ground. As the piledriver 11 approaches the guide structure 46, it will be necessary to remove the guide structure from the piling so that the apparatus 15 does not interfere with penetration of the piling 10 into the ground and downward movement of the piledriver 11 therewith. At this time, however, the piling 10 will be sufliciently embedded in the ground to be self-supporting.

The relatively long rear leg 35 lends stability to the apparatus without requiring it to be excessively heavy; and on slopes that are excessively steep, the rear leg 35 can be weighted or otherwise affixed to the ground should this be necessary. In this reference, it might be noted that pilings can be quite heavy and, by way of example, one

frequently used size thereof has a weight of the order of 500 pounds and may be driven by a conventional heavyduty piledriver 11 which itself may exceed 175 pounds in weight.

The modified embodiment of the lifter and support apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 8 is generally similar, both structurally and functionally, to the embodiment heretofore described and departs therefrom mainly as respects the characteristics of the leg structure and as respects the inclusion of screw mechanism to effect translational displacements of the platform to accurately align a piling 10 with the particular position along a ground surface at which the piling is to be driven thereinto. The leg structure of such modified embodiment includes an inverted U-shaped channel 73 equipped adjacent the opposite ends thereof with nuts 74 threadedly engaged, respectively, by elongated legs 75 and 76 which are provided with threads along the lengths thereof and are pointed at their lower ends so as to penetrate a ground surface. Spaced upwardly a short distance above such pointed ends, the legs are respectively equipped with laterally extending flanges 77 and 78 which define relatively large-area abutments that limit penetration of the legs into such ground surface. At their upper ends, the legs are equipped with handles 79 and 80, respectively, to facilitate adjustable rotation thereof.

Slidably mounted upon the channel 73 intermediate the legs 75 and 76 is an inverted U-shaped channel 81 bridged across the depending legs thereof with a closure plate 82. Fixedly secured to the channel 81 and extending upwardly therefrom is a bracket 83, and aligned therewith along the length of the channel 73 and fixedly mounted thereon is an upwardly extending bracket 84. The brackets 83 and 84 are provided with openings therethrough receiving an elongated screw 85 equipped with a handle 86. The screw threadedly engages the opening in the bracket 84 and is rotatable relative to the bracket 83 but is constrained by pins or otherwise against longitudinal displacements with respect thereto. Rotation of the screw 85 selectively in opposite directions causes the channel 81 to be displaced in corresponding directions along the channel 73.

The leg structure further includes an elongated rearwardly extending leg 87 of generally T-shaped configuration (as shown best in FIG. 7), but with the web thereof diminishing in Width toward the outer end of the leg. The leg is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the channel 81 so as to move transversely therewith as it is displaced along the channel 73 by the first screw mechanism including the brackets 83 and 84 and screw and so as to move vertically therewith as its elevation is varied by adjustment of the legs 75 and 76. Slidably mounted upon the flange or head of the T-shaped leg 87 is a platform comprising a lower platform or channel member 88 cooperatively engaging the leg 87 and an upper platform '89 attached to the channel-platform 88 and equipped with a bracket 90 extending upwardly therefrom.

In substantial alignment with the bracket 90 is a bracket 91 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the leg 87, and the bracket members 90 and 91 are provided with openings therethrough that receive an elongated threaded screw 92 equipped at one end thereof with a handle 93. The screw 92 threadedly engages the bracket 81 and is rotatable relative to the bracket 90 but is constrained by pins or otherwise against displacements relative thereto. Evidently then, selective rotation of the second screw mechanism (including the brackets 90 and 91 and screw 92) in opposite directions causes the platform structure comprising the lower platform 88 and upper platform 89 to move longitudinally along the leg 87 in associated directions. It should be noted that the upper platform 89 is substantially the same as the upper platform 42 in that it carries the holder-equipped guide means through linkage and carries the power mechanism by means of which the guide structure is displaced between the generally horizontal and generally vertical positions thereof. As respects the modified apparatus, all of such additional components arranged with the platform 89 may be the same as those shown in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 and heretofore described in detail, wherefore no further description thereof will be included.

An adapter 94 is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 which may be used with the percussive tool 11 to drive piling 10. The adapter 94 comprises a pair of L-shaped cheek plates 95 and 96 that are spaced apart a predetermined distance by pins having enlarged o'enter portions defining spacers 97 and restricted end portions projecting through the cheek plates and flattened along the outer surfaces thereof like rivets. The cheek plates are provided with openings along their upper legs or outwardly projecting flanges to enable the same to be secured to the fronthead 12 of the percussive tool 11, and the opening defined between the spacers 97 is adapted to pass a piling therethrough. Evidently then, such piling is confined within the opening of the adaptor and which opening has definitive dimensions established by the depending legs of the cheek plates 95 and 96 in one direction and by the spacers 97 in the opposite direction. The adaptor and pile driver rides freely on such piling received within the opening thereof.

While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the invention have been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making a complete disclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

We claim:

1. Apparatus of lightweight and portable construction for lifting piling and the like into a predetermined orientation and for then supporting the same as when such piling is driven by an impact-delivering driver therefor into a ground surface or the like, comprising a tripod leg structure adapted to be supported along such surface adjacent a location at which piling is to be driven thereinto and including a pair of transversely spaced and upwardly extending front legs and an elongated longitudinally extending rear leg disposed so as to intersect the plane defined by said front legs, guide structure equipped with holder means for securing a piling thereto, connector structure interconnecting said leg and guide structures and supporting the latter for movement relative to the former so as to dispose any such piling secured to said guide structure at a predetermined orientation irrespective of the disposition of such leg-supporting surface, and power mechanism connected with said guide structure for adjustably displacing the same to effect such orientation of a piling.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said front legs are vertically adjustable relative to each other so as to accommodate irregularities along any such surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said adjustable legs are equipped with feet pivotally related thereto so as to enable said apparatus to be disposed readily along inclined surfaces.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said guide structure is elongated so as to support any such piling along an extended length thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said holder means comprises a plurality of spaced apart fasteners for securing such piling to said guide structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said connector structure includes a platform secured to said leg structure, and further includes linkage pivotally securing said guide structure to said platform, the aforesaid rear leg being disposed so as to extend generally along the plane of said platform.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 and further comprising adjustment means connecting said platform with said leg structure to enable said platform to be adjustably displaced translationally relative to said leg structure.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said adjustment means includes a first screw mechanism for displacing said platform transversely and a second screw mechanism for displacing said platform longitudinally.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said power mechanism includes motor means operative between said guide and leg structures.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which said motor means comprises piston-cylinder structure pivotally connected with said leg and guide structures, and a hydraulic pump system including said piston-cylinder structure for energizing the same to effect adjustable displacements of said guide structure relative to said leg structure.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said front legs are vertically adjustable relative to each other so as to accommodate irregularities along any such surface, in which said connector structure includes a platform carried by said leg structure and linkage pivotally securing said guide structure to said platform, and in which said power mechanism includes motor means operative between said guide and leg structures, the aforesaid rear leg being disposed so as to extend generally along the plane of said platform.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which said guide structure is elongated so as to support any such piling along an extended length thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which said motor means comprises piston-cylinder structure pivotally connected with said leg and guide structures, and a hydraulic pump system including said piston-cylinder structure for energizing the same to effect adjustable displacement of said guide structure relative to said leg structure.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 and further comprising adjustment means connecting said platform with said leg structure to enable said platform to be adjustably displaced translationally relative to said leg structure, said adjustment means including a plate secured to said leg structure and a plurality of releasable fasteners selectively constraining said platform in any position of adjustment thereof to said plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 498,721 5/1893 McKay 173-43 XR 2,926,798 3/1960 Hamilton 214- 3,074,241 l/1963 Cahill et a1 214-4 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 64,279 1/ 1946 Denmark. 370,620 3/ 1923 Germany. 615,008 5/1935 Germany. 128,287 5/1950 Sweden.

ROBERT G. SHERIDAN, Primary Examiner F. E. WERNER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 2l4l 

